Raimondo faults Taveras for shootings in the capital city

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – State Treasurer Gina Raimondo on Thursday squarely placed the blame for the violence in Rhode Island’s capitol city at the doorstep of her leading opponent in the Democratic race for governor: Providence Mayor Angel Taveras.

PROVIDENCE, R.I. – State Treasurer Gina Raimondo on Thursday squarely placed the blame for the violence in Rhode Island’s capitol city at the doorstep of her leading opponent in the Democratic race for governor: Providence Mayor Angel Taveras.

On her way into a campaign-hosted “conversation with community leaders’’ at her Elmwood Avenue headquarters, she said: “Every year that he [has] been in office there have been over 100 shootings.”

A WPRO-radio reporter posed this question: “Do you think Mayor Taveras bears responsibility for this increase in shootings here in Providence?

“Well, of course,’’ Raimondo said. “That’s just basic accountability. When you are the leader you have to take responsibility.’’

She then left the impromptu parking lot news conference, to begin her “roundtable” with community advocates, including state Rep. Grace Diaz, who has endorsed her, and Teny Gross, of the Institute for the Study and Practice of Non-Violence, who said he is not endorsing any candidates.

Raimondo was asked again afterward what Taveras had done – or not done – that in her view made him responsible for the shootings.

“Well the cuts in the police department department, one could argue, have been related to crime…. The facts are: every year he has been mayor there’s been more than 100 shootings in the city,” she said. “The year before he ran, there were 87 shootings…it’s not a personal thing. It’s just there’s a violence problem…and as the mayor, that’s a problem that he has to be focused on.”

Asked what she was suggesting he should have done when he came into office and found the city in serious financial trouble, she said: “No doubt about that…. There’s no question that being the mayor is hard…[but] being the governor will also be hard…And I am simply speaking to the results. The results are: very high unemployment, no activity [on the former Route 195 land], 4th highest commercial property taxes, and 100 shootings a year.’’

His fault? “I am just pointing to the results under his leadership.’’

This was the response from Taveras spokeswoman Dawn Bergantino, after being apprised of Raimondo’s comments:

“The Treasurer isn’t entitled to her own facts. Under this mayor, employment is up, crime is down, and Providence was saved from the brink of bankruptcy. Given her Wall Street background it’s not surprising that she would misrepresent the Mayor’s record, especially since she cannot run on her own record.’’

While Taveras “has worked every day since 2011 to bring jobs and hundreds of millions of dollars of development into Providence,’’ Bergantino said, “the Treasurer has been busy raising campaign contributions from her friends on Wall Street. Under her “leadership,” fees to Wall Street have increased to $70 million and the state pension fund has consistently trailed its peers.’’

Raimondo made her comments before and after she spoke to a group of people at an event that her campaign described as “Gina Raimondo To Discuss Ideas To Keep Rhode Island Families & Neighborhoods Safe.’’

She said people need to feel safe on the streets for the capital city to have a vibrant economy.

Among her key points:

• Ban the sale and purchase of military-style weapons. Rhode Island is the only state between New York and Boston that has yet to implement a ban on military-style weapons.’’ (State lawmakers have been unwilling to pass the legislation she recommends the last two years.)

• “Ban the sale and purchase of high-capacity magazines. The legislature has limited the number of rounds when deer hunting to five and the number of rounds when duck hunting to three. If we are willing to limit rounds to protect our wildlife, we surely can limit rounds to protect our children.’’

• “Enact and enforce criminal penalties against persons who buy or procure a gun for someone who is not legally permitted to own or possess a firearm.’’

• “Better use technology to meet the needs of the victims of domestic violence, and break down silos between government agencies and service providers.’’

• “Enhance TDI leave for victims of domestic violence to allow them to obtain medical attention or attend court.’’

• “Explore implementing a “one-strike rule” to close establishments in which prostitution is found to be occurring.’’